'With 10 men it was almost impossible'published at 17:10 BST 20 April 2025
17:10 BST 20 April 2025
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Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, speaking to Sky Sports after the 4-0 defeat to Arsenal: "It was a tough afternoon.
"The first half an hour was really difficult, Arsenal played really well and we were at full stretch to try and compete with them.
"After the red card and getting to half time I thought the group did really well in the second half. The game was almost done and we had to show the right values and we did that. They scored two goals off short corners.
"The opponent was too strong for us today when 11 v 11 and with 10 men it was almost impossible."
Ipswich 0-4 Arsenal: Did you know?published at 16:25 BST 20 April 2025
16:25 BST 20 April 2025
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Leif Davis' dismissal was the first red card of his career in English football, on what was his 152nd appearance. Arriving in the 32nd minute, it was the earliest sending off for an Ipswich player in a Premier League match since Phil Whelan in December 1994, also against Arsenal (23rd minute).
Sutton's predictions: Ipswich v Arsenalpublished at 10:44 BST 20 April 2025
10:44 BST 20 April 2025
Arsenal will be on such a high after their Champions League win over Real Madrid.
I am covering this game and while Arteta will probably rest a few players and freshen things up, the Gunners will still have too much nous for Ipswich.
It probably summed up Ipswich's season that they went 2-0 up against Chelsea last time out and could not see out the win, but they deserve credit for giving it a good go.
Ipswich were pretty stubborn when they lost 1-0 at Emirates Stadium in December and I am expecting them to show some resilience this time too, even if they end up with the same result.
Ipswich 'much better equipped' for another promotion - Clarkepublished at 12:50 BST 19 April 2025
12:50 BST 19 April 2025
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Ipswich winger Jack Clarke says the club are "much better equipped" to be promoted again should they be relegated back to the Championship this season.
Kieran McKenna's side finished second and were promoted on 96 points in the 2023-24 campaign, but look resigned to an immediate return to the second tier, which could be confirmed this weekend.
When asked if the club are in a strong place to return, Clarke said: "Everybody does - you'd be stupid not to.
"They finished second last season and I think everybody at the club would argue they're very much better equipped now for if they were back in the Championship now to what they were last season.
"I think the trajectory of the club is always going to be on the up - it just depends if and when what exactly happens."
Clarke joined Ipswich for an initial fee of £15 last summer but has struggled for form in the top flight, managing just nine starts without scoring.
"Nobody had really played at this level before and its a case of learning what works, seeing what doesn't work and that has just come with time," the 24-year-old added.
"It's hard to dwell on games when you've always got another big one coming up.
"For everybody, it's just been a learning curve and hopefully we can be better for it.
"Sometimes you do feel a little bit starstruck when you line up against the top teams in these prestigious stadiums, but I think that's something you have to take while it's in front of you.
"Weirdly, its probably been one of the most enjoyable seasons without winning many games in terms of the experience and the level we have competed again. It will be one we can all appreciate much longer down the line in our lives."
The numbers behind Delap's importance to Ipswichpublished at 12:26 BST 19 April 2025
12:26 BST 19 April 2025
Matthew Hobbs BBC Sport multi-platform journalist
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Ipswich's relegation back to the Championship could be confirmed this weekend if results go against them, but it would likely have been sewn up earlier if not for the heroics of in-demand Liam Delap.
As the graphic shows, only Alexander Isak, Bruno Fernandes and Mohammed Salah have been more influential in terms of their teams' goal contributions than Delap in the Premier League this season.
In fact, Delap has scored a higher percentage of Ipswich's goals this season than any other player in their Premier League history.
McKenna on Philogene injury, strength for 2025-26 and Tuanzebe's futurepublished at 15:13 BST 18 April 2025
15:13 BST 18 April 2025
Ben Ramsdale BBC Sport journalist
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Portman Road (kick-off 14:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
McKenna confirmed January signing Jaden Philogene will "pretty much definitely" not feature again this season after sustaining a knee injury in last weekend's draw at Chelsea.
He also added that Omari Hutchinson and Kalvin Phillips both remain out for Sunday's fixture, but forward Liam Delap has trained and will be assessed.
McKenna understands that Town are likely to "fall short" this season but even if they do, they will be in "a real strong position" going into 2025-26.
On Ben Johnson's form: "He has built well over the course of the season and has certainly been in good form over the past few games. He is making good progress and getting his reward. Long may it continue."
He expressed his desire to keep Axel Tuanzebe at the club beyond this season, labelling him as a "very important player" for the side.
Finally, on the challenge of Arsenal: "We believe in ourselves and we believe if we execute every part of our game right then we have a chance and we can compete even with the best. If we do all that, and it's our day, then there is a chance we can get it on Sunday."
Ipswich v Arsenal: Did you know?published at 09:20 BST 18 April 2025
09:20 BST 18 April 2025
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Ipswich have never won in 11 previous Premier League meetings with Arsenal (D2 L9). It is the most they have faced a side without a victory in the competition, while the Gunners have only faced Portsmouth more often without losing (14).
Arsenal have won their last 10 Premier League games against teams starting the day in the relegation zone by an aggregate score of 30-2.
Ipswich have dropped 27 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other side. They have only won one out of six games in 2025 when they have taken the lead (D3 L2).
What's the one thing no-one is talking about?published at 16:44 BST 16 April 2025
16:44 BST 16 April 2025
Ipswich have seen an upturn in form with four points from their past three games, but it looks like too little, too late for their chances of Premier League survival.
Is there something else that is slipping under the radar? What is the one thing - good or bad - nobody is talking about in relation to Ipswich?
'Mixture of anger and acceptance' at Delap release clausepublished at 12:29 BST 15 April 2025
12:29 BST 15 April 2025
Seb Brown Fan writer
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The chant "10 more years Delap, 10 more years" rang out from the away end on Sunday as Ipswich gained an unlikely point away at Chelsea.
Liam Delap started on the bench at Stamford Bridge but has been the talking point all week after news broke of a £30m relegation release clause in his contract.
The reaction to this news amongst the fan base has been a mixture of anger and acceptance. Understandably, many are annoyed that one of the hottest young talents in English football will likely be moving on for a bargain fee.
Speculation around his valuation has been rife all season, with figures of £50-60m mentioned by the fans and the media. So to find out that he will most likely depart for about half of that figure is obviously frustrating.
While there is angst amongst the fan base, it is worth looking back at the situation the club found themselves in when Delap joined.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and very few fans would have predicted a player, who was coming in off an eight-goal Championship campaign at Hull City, would have turned out to be so impressive.
Delap has scored 12 Premier League goals this season, which is 36% of Ipswich's total, and his all-action displays are a throwback to a previous generation of centre forwards.
Unfortunately, however, if this relegation clause was a requirement of getting the initial deal done then in reality Ipswich had no choice.
Delap had already met with Southampton before signing for Town and newly-promoted sides rarely hold much advantage when trying to sign new players, because of the survival odds being stacked against them.
Town fans will get to enjoy Delap for six more games before he departs - and although £9m profit on a player after 12 months may be frustrating, it shows how quickly the club have progressed after years of poor player trading.
Trust must be given to the decision-makers at the club to always get the best deals possible and unearth another next gem for fans to serenade with songs from many away ends.
Chelsea 2-2 Ipswich - the fans' verdictpublished at 10:53 BST 14 April 2025
10:53 BST 14 April 2025
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We asked for your views on Chelsea's Premier League game against Ipswich.
Here are some of your comments:
Chelsea fans
Dave: Rubbish, not much more to say - boring, negative, no flair, no style just backward sideways passing - the football we play deserves nothing. This manager is helping to kill football as an entertainment.
Stevie: Not good enough, no disrespect to Ipswich but taking only one point over two games from them is not enough. Not if we want to get Champions League and challenge for titles. Maresca-ball is boring and are we really any better than last year under Pochettino?
Peter: I've been a fan and a supporter of Chelsea for nearly 60 years now and even in the days of the 70s of relegations, I've never been so despondent towards a Chelsea team as I am now.
Ipswich fans
Tim: Good performance by Town, I was nervous at the start but we showed we can match the big clubs and Chelsea were fortunate to get the draw. We wasted first half of the season by dropping so many points against lower quality teams.
David: A gutsy display by a team who can only spend the same amount of money on their team as Chelsea spend on one player.
Saxon: Would have taken a draw before the game but gutted to lose points from a winning position yet again.
'We did not do a load of things wrong'published at 16:40 BST 13 April 2025
16:40 BST 13 April 2025
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Kieran McKenna spoke to Premier League productions after Sunday's draw against Chelsea: "I thought it was a really good game. Really proud of the group again. First half was difficult and our resilience was really good. Second half we played well, really even. It was a big blow them getting a goal so early in second half. It took an incredible strike from Sancho off the bench. We gave everything and showed our quality.
On defensive lapses: "We know our record in first half is better than second half. I don't think today we did a load of things wrong. We didn't defend the moment well from the kick off. We defended right up to Sancho's goal really well. Can we get out quicker? Yes, we were half a yard off it. A top player sticks one in top corner from a really difficult angle.
On Julio Enciso's perfomance: "Big credit to him. It's been unfortunate for Julio. He could have made a huge impact for us in terms of results. He could have been a difference maker for us. I think the spirit we showed from Julio and the rest of the players summed up the group.
On Alex Palmer's saves: "Some great saves. The one at the end with his right arm was top drawer. He's made a big difference for us in the second half of the season."
Ipswich Town have lost more points from winning positions than any other team in the Premier League this season (27), winning just one of the six league matches they've led in in 2025.
Still a 'positive energy' around Ipswich - Tuanzebepublished at 11:04 BST 13 April 2025
11:04 BST 13 April 2025
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Ipswich defender Axel Tuanzebe says there is "still a positive energy" around the club, despite last weekend's damaging loss against Wolves.
The 2-1 home defeat left Kieran McKenna's side 12 points from safety with seven games to play and on the brink of relegation back to the Championship.
"There is still a positive energy," Tuanzebe said before Sunday's visit to Chelsea. "There's still seven games where we can affect our future and we're optimistic about that.
"Playing with freedom, expressing ourselves and that's when you see our best levels of football."
Tuanzebe's deal expires at the end of the season, but the former Manchester United player says there have not been discussions yet over his future.
"The club have got bigger things to focus on at the moment," he added. "Contractual situations, even for myself, have been put to the side and there's plenty of time in the summer to deal with that.
"Right now, the focus is on maintaining good performances, winning games and hopefully we can stay in the Premier League come next season."
Despite relegation looking likely, Tuanzebe believes there are reasons for Ipswich fans to be optimistic for the future.
"You can see the construction has begun for the new training ground, the club are really taking things seriously and the project is for the next few years," he said.
"I think it'll be one of the bigger clubs in England in the coming years. They really want to invest and push the team in the right direction and that message starts from the owners and goes all the way down to us players. We're all on board with it and all heading in the right direction."